Automobile-engine starter.



F. H. HARTUNG.

AUTOMOBILE ENGINE STARTER,

APPLICATION man ocT.zo, 1916.

l,220,5 l l Patented Mm. 27, 1917.

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UNITE@ STATES PATENT FRANK H. IIARTUNG, 0F N ORWOOI), GIIIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND Ii/IESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO TI-IE U-NEED-A STARTER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION 0F OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE-ENGINE STARTER.

.Application filed October 20, 1916.

engine if backfire occurs.

In the drawing:

igure l is a front elevation of the front end of the frame of an automobile with my :invention installed thereon, part of the handle rod being broken away for lack of space; y

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the main part of the starter and part of the crank shaft on which it is mounted;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on a line corresponding to the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. l is a detail plan view of part of the lever and its hub with the releaser mounted thereon;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on a plane cor responding to the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

TJigs. G, 7V and S are diagrammatical sectional .f'iews representing` the various rela-- tive positions of the parts during different stages of thc operation, the section in each instance being on a plane corresponding to the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

As l A the crank shaft l of the engine to be started has fitted on its end a sleeve 2, which has projecting past the end of the shaft, a suitable toothed clutch member 3 for the application of the ordinary well known starting crank, if it be desirable or necessary to start the engine inl this way. The sleeve 2 extends back along the shaft l and around its rear end part is fitted the collar 4, which with this sleeve 2 is fixed to turn with the shaft l by means of a pin 5, passing diametrically through it and the sleeve of the shaft. This collar e has a forwardly projecting annular peripheral ange 6, so that there is an annular space around between this flange and the sleeve 2, immediately forward of the collar t. Fitting around the sleeve 2 betweenthe collar t and the for- Specification of Letters Patent.

prefer to construct my invention,

Patented Mar. 2'?, 19T?. ser'iai no. 126,659.

ward part 3 above alluded to, the arm 7 has the hub 8; and fitting around this hub 8 between the collar l and a forward annular flange 9 on the hub 8 is the releaser l0, which preferably has an annular fiange ll fitting back against the front edge of the fiange 6 of the collar 4.V

The hub 8 has in its convex surface a series of depressions l2 (Figs. 6 to 8, inelusive) which, as here shown, are three in number; and the releaser l0 has a corresponding number of slots 13 adapted to register with the depressions l2, so that spaces are formed in which are held cylindrical gripping members le with their axes parallel with the aXes of the shaft l and heldbaclr in the spaces by the inner side of the forward flange ll of the releaser, whichforms the front end of the respective slot l2.

is shown in the drawing and as usually constructed, the engine is to be turned clockwise, looking at it from the front. The side of each depression l2 that is advanced in the above direction is comparatively short and almost radial of the hub 8, while the other side is longer and far less inclined to the normal convex surface of the hub. Thus, if the hub is turned clock-wise, the gripping' members 14 ride up on the less inclined si'de of the depression l2 and are wedged on the inner concave surface of the flange 6 of the collar 4, causing the collar l and consequently the shaft l, and incidentally the sleeve 2, to turn in direction. The arm 7 extends from the hub 8 over to the left. Thus by pulling up on the arm 7 the engine shaft l is rotated through part of a revolution, depending upon how far around the arm 7 is pulled. But when the pulling on the arm ceases, the engine shaft l may continue to turn and will then merely tend to force the gripping members lt down into4 the depressions 12,

away from the inner side of the flange 6,

destroying the frictional connection with the arm 7 The construction so far described is suflicient for starting the engine, and safe, so

long as the engine does not run in the wrong l direction, as when back-lire occurs. In fact this is true of almost any ordinary starting crank that may be applied to the part 3.

Vith my invention, if the engine, during the same the process of starting, is caused to rotate in the wrong direction, or as here shown, counter clock-wise, lhe releaser 10 acts to terminate. the frictional -connection above. desciibed. Thus the releaser 10 has a radially projecting finger 15 at the left side, which,- as the releaser turns counter clockwise, engages with a stationary member 16 at the left side of the device close to the fiange 11 of the releaser and prevents further turning of the releaser` in this direction?. The slots 13 inthe releasei, the sides of which flank the cylindrically engaging members 14, are inclined from coincident radii radially outward inthe direction of proper turning of the parts, with the result that when the releaser 10. isprevented from. fuigtlier turning in the iinproper direction,

the slightest additional improper turning of the other parts, z'. e., the shaft 1, sleeve 2 and collar el, bringsl the engagingl niembeijs 'Lil against the side ofV the respective slot 13 that tends to wedge the engaging member 14sl radially inward away from the inside, of the fiange G. Thus the driving connectionzbetween theaiin 7 and the shaft l is destroyed immediately at the beginning of any reverse rotation of` the engine before any damage ca nY occur to either the operator or mechanism.

'Ehe ireleasei. 19` has, radially inward on its front4 end, to. come adjacent to the outwardy sui-face of thehub 8 next toits flange 9, anf annular. recess in which 'is located a small; helical! spring. 17 compressed between a lug oi-pin 18 on the releaser` and a lug or pin19gon the hub, This spring causes the releasento resume its. normal position after it has actedin the above manner. The ineinber 1:6 for the finger lto enO'aOe with is i l, t3. D b l 7 present, in manyy automobiles to which my invention is applicable, inthe form of theuppei edgepartofV af frame castingy of substantially seini-circular cross-section under thefoizward part of, the engine shaftl as seen in Fig.y 1. Also, ina greatinany autoino biles, thefpart ofthe shaft to` which myin-- ventionlis appliedis,regularly providedwith a pulley for drivingthe ventilat-ingfan.

inakejthe peripheralsurface of the collar-k.- anditsiiange 6, to correspond in'size and.

shape lwithhsuch ay pulley, and by.` allowing the fan belt ltoepas/s therearound it servesto drive thefan thesanie asp-.wouldgthe regular pulley,

Theiipper part.l ofthe arin,7, a short distance from the hub 8, has a lug 7 whichref ceives. the hook 2Q-w-hilch in turn hasconf nectedtoiit,l one end of a tension spring 21.

Fastened over, the-topof the frameofy the.

automobile.attheileft side isa rod 22 that extends down-and has lconnected to its lower endlthe otherend of thetension spring 21. Thus the spring 21 normally holds the arm 7 downin analinost horizontal position at the left, but readily yields to allow the arm 7' to be pulled upward and over to the right.

Flanking and pivoted to the` free. end part of the arm 7 are. links23 thateXtend` up and receive between them a roller 24 which has peripheral' groove 25. Rigidly mounted on the part of the frame at the right is a bracket 26 which has a fork extending lat` eially inward but somewhat inclined forwardly, and a roller 27 is journaled between the members 28 ofthe. foigk asuitable passing downward therethrough. A chain 29 has one end secured to a lug 30 on. the upper end part of the bracekt 26, passes to the, left andr down over the roller 24e and down to the right under saidrollerand'. forwardly aroundf therollerY 27, and then rearwardly and upwardly,1where it has its other end. connected to the lower forwardV end of a handle rod 31 which may extendtowithin a conitenient distance, of the seat of the automobile, where it, may be. provided with a suitable handle 32,.I Breferably, the roller 272 has its peripheral surface-ofia slightly concave cross-section, so that the chainmpassing therearound,` is kept from riding up against theupper member 2 8 of` the forkof thebiacket 2G. Thegioove25-infthe rollery 24' admits the alternate links. of the chain: 29, which lie perpendicular to the periphery. of the roller inpassing therearound.

lilith thevconstruction just described, it isk only necessaryto pull. backwardlyand4 upwardly on the handle. 32, whereupon the stretches of the chain; 29 are reduced' in length. witlithe result of pullingA the arm 7 up and over toI the right to the extent oi nearly one-half revolution; which is sufi-, cient4 to secure an explosion. in the engine. fthe engine does not start with this effort, the entire mechanism iszallowedfto beV pulled hack to itsinitial position by the spring 21, whereupon theoperatioii may be repeated. The. loop of the chain 29, having two. stretchesto be shortenedin theoperation results in a mechanical advantage that greatly` relieves theopeiator inthe starting operation. As. will be. readily understood,` the spring 2 1 isV strongenough.. only to readily pullthe partscbackl to their initialvpositions', during which therey is. no l resistance` to bey overcoineother than aV small proportionof the weightsof thefpartsand the friction of the bearings.

Fromthe'foregoingit will be seen that not onlyis a device providedby means of which the engine may bek started witho utnecessitatv ingthe .driver-of the automobile` leaving. the seat: thereof, but the. startingfis,accomplished( with inuchlesseixertion onthe part. of the operator a.nd,lwith theieleaser, there isa,

alluded to, since it occupies very little space, is very inexpensive and may e very convenient in case of accident to the mechanism of my invention. In fact, on many automobiles to which my invention is applicable,

this part 3 and the sleeve 2 are present and require only the substitution of the other members of my improved mechanism for the fan drivingI pulley as hereinbefore des scribed. It will be understood, however, that the sleeve 2 and part 3 are not essential to my invention and also that other minor modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the following claims:

l. In combination, a rotatable engine element, a hub element and a releaser journaled concentric with said engine element, one of said elements having a depression opening toward the other element with a bottom inclined circumferentially of said elements, said releaser having a slot to register with said depression, a gripping member in said depression and slot, to be wedOed between said inclined bottom of said depression of said element and the adjacent part of the other of said elements when said hub element is rotated in engine-starting direction, one side of said slot being inclined circumferentially of said releaser to wedge said gripping' member away from its wedged position between said bottom of said slot and said other member when said engine element is rotated in the opposite direction relative to said releaser, means to stop said reA leaser from rotating in said opposite direction, yieldable means to return said releaser from its stopped position, and means connected to said hub element to rotate it in enginestarting direction.

2. In combination with an engine and its crank shaft, a collar fixed on said crank shaft coaxial therewith, a hub and a releaser journaled concentric with said shaft and collar, said hub having a depression in its peripheral surface, said releaser having a part with a slot to register with said depression, and said collar having a part extending across said depression and slot, a gripping member in said depression and slot, the bottom of said depression being inclined circu1nferen tially of said hub to wedge said gripping member out against said part of said collar when said hub is rotated inengine-starting direction, and one side of said slot being inclined circumferentially of said releaser "to wedge said gripping member away from said part of said collar when said collar is rotated in the opposite direction relative to said releaser, means to stop said releaser from rotating in said opposite direction, yieldable means to return said releaser from its stopped position, and means connected to said hub to rotate it in engine-starting direction.

vtom of said depression being inclined circumferentially of said hub to wedge said gripping member out against said part of said collar when said hub is rotated in enginestarting direction, and one side of said slot being inclined circumferentially of said releaser to wedge said gripping member away 'from said part of said collar when said collar is rotated in the opposite direction relative to said releaser, means to stop said releaser from rotating in said opposite direction, yieldable means to return said releaser from its stopped position, and yieldable means to rotate said hub in said opposite direction.

1i. in combination with an engine and its crank shaft, a collar Xed on said crank shaft coaxial therewith, a hub and a releaser journaled concentric with said shaft and collar, said hub having a depression in its peripheral surface, said releaser having a part with a slot to register with said depression, and said collar having a part extending across said depression and slot, a gripping member in said depression and slot, the bottom of said depression being inclined circumferentially of said hub to wedge said gripping member out against said part of said collar when said hub is rotated in engine-starting direction, and one side of said slot being inclined circumferentially of said releaser to wedge said gripping member away from said part of said collar when said collar is rotated in the opposite direction relative to said releaser, means to stop said relcaser from rotating in said opposite direction, said releaser and said hub having parts opposed on an arc concentric with said shaft, a spring compressed between these parts to return said releaser from its stopped position, and means connected to said hub to rotate it in engine-starting direction.

5. In combination with an engine and its crank shaft, a collar fixed on said crank shaft coaxial therewith, a hub and a releaser journaled concentric with said shaft and collar, said hub having a depression in its peripheral surface, said releaser having a part with a slot to register with said depression, and said collar having a part eX- tending across said depression and slot, a gripping member in said depression and slot, the bottom of said depression being inclined circumferentially of said hub to wedge said gripping member out against said part of said collar when said hub is rotated in engine-starting direction, and one side of said slot being inclined circumi'erentially of' said releaser to wedge said gripping member away from said part of said collar when said collar is rotated in the opposite direction relative to said i'eleaser, means to stop said releaser from rotating in said opposite direction said releaser and said hub having parts opposed on an arc concentric with said shaft, a spring compressed between these parts to return said releaser iroin its stopped position, and yieldable means to rotate said hub in said opposite direction.

G. In combination with an engine and its crank shaft, acollar iixed on said crank shaft coaxial therewith, a hub anda releaser journaled concentric with -said shaft and collar, said hub having a depression in its peripheral surface, said releaser having a part with a slot to register with said depression, and said collar having a part extending across said depression and slot, a gripping member in said depression and slot, the bottom of said depression being inclined circumferentially of said hub to wedge said gripping member out against said part of said collar when said hub is rotated in engine-starting direction, and one side of said slot being inclined cii'cumierentially of said releaser to wedge said gripping member away-from said part of said collar when said collar is rotated in the opposite direction relative to said releaser, means to stop said releaser from rotating in said opposite direction, yieldable means to return said releaser from its stopped position, an arm fixed to said hub, a flexible connect-ion having a loop with one end part fixed, said loop being movably connected to said hub, radially outward from said hub, to rotate said hub in engine-starting direction by pulling the other end part of said loop, and yieldable means to rotate said hub in said opposite direction.

i. In combination with an engine and its crank shaft, a collar fixed on said crank shaft coaxial therewith, a hub and areleaser journaled concentric with said shaft and collar, said liubhaving a depression in its pe-V ripheral. surface,l said releaser having a slot to register with said depression, and said collar having a part extending across said depression and slot, a gripping member in said depression and slot, the bottom of said depression being inclined circumferentially of said hub to wedge said gripping member out against said part of said collar when said hub is rotated in engine-starting direction, and one side of said slot being inclined circuinferentially of said releaser to wedge said gripping member away Jfrom said part of said collar when said collar is rotated in the opposite direction relative to said releaser, means to stop said releaser from rotating in said opposite direction, yieldable means to return said releaser from its stopped position, an arm fixed to said hub, a roller journaled on said arm radially outward from said hub, a iixed bracket, a roller journaled in said bracket, a fiexible connection with one end fixed to said bracket and passing around said roller on said arm and around said roller in said bracket to rotate said hub in engine-starting direction by pulling said i'iexible connection where it extends past said roller in said bracket, and yieldable means to rotate saidV hubin said opposite direction.

FRANK H. HARTUNG.

Witnesses:

CHARLES WEIGEL, FREDERIC S; KUNSTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.' C. 

